2 October 1369: Joyoud being Presented to the Constable of France Bertrand du Guesclin

The Constable of France (French: connétable de France, from Latin comes stabuli for "count of the stables"), as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France (along with seneschal, chamberlain, butler, and chancellor) and Commander in Chief of the army. Bertrand du Guesclin (c 1320 &ndash 13 July 1380) known as the Eagle of Brittany, was a Breton Knight and French military commander French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A count is a Nobleman in European countries The word count comes from French comte, itself from Latin The Great Officers of the Crown were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. The Grand Chambellan de France &ndash here translated as Grand Chamberlain of France to distinguish it from the similar but different position of Grand Chambrier de France A butler is a senior servant in a large Household. In the Great houses of the past the household was sometimes divided into departments with the butler Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King. List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below He was also responsible for military justice and served to regulate the Chivalry. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. His jurisdiction was called the connestablie. The office was established by King Philip I in 1060 with Alberic becoming the first Constable. Philip I ( 23 May 1052 &ndash 29 July 1108) called the Amorous or the Fat, was King of France from 1060 The office was abolished in 1627 in accordance with the Edict of January 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu, upon the death of Francois de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières, after his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism in 1622. This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. François de Bonne duc de Lesdiguières ( 1 April 1543 &ndash 21 September 1626) was soldier of the French Wars of Religion and A duke is a member of the Nobility, historically of highest rank below the Sovereign, and historically controlled a Duchy or a Dukedom Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described The position was replaced by the Dean of Marshals (Doyen des maréchaux), in reality the most senior Marshal of France in a strictly ceremonial role. The Marshal of France (Maréchal de France and pl Maréchaux de France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a Military rank. A few constables died in battle or were executed for treason, mostly for political intrigue.

Badge of Office

The badge of office was a highly elaborate sword called the "Royal Sword" (Fr. 'de Charlemagne') surnamed "Joyous". This sword dated from the 1300s and was contained in a blue scabbard embellished with fleur-de-lis in column from hilt to point. The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily Traditionally, the constable was presented with the sword on taking his office. ^[1]

Persons Subordinate to the Constable of France

• Maréchaux de France
  • Colonel-general - a special position in the French army, which commands all the regiments of the same branch of service (ie. The Marshal of France (Maréchal de France and pl Maréchaux de France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a Military rank. A Colonel General was an officer of the French army during the Ancien Régime, Napoleonic era and the Bourbon Restoration. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. infantry, cavalry, Dragoons,. . . )
  • Lieutenant-general - the highest general rank of the French army
  • Maréchal de camp (Field Marshall) - the lowest general rank
• Porte-Oriflamme - a very prestigious position, though unofficial, which carries the royal banner in battle. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the
• Grand Master of Archers (Grand-Maître des Arbalétriers - commander of the crossbow-men)
• Grand Master of Artillery (Grand-Maître de l'artillerie). The Master of Crossbowmen (Maître des Arbalétriers or more precisely Master of Arbalesters or Master of Archers was the title of a commander A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts The Grand Master of Artillery or Grand Maître de l'artillerie was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France during the Ancien Régime. From the beginning of the XVII century, the Grand Master of the Artillery became a Great Officer of the Crown and was no longer subordinate to the Constable. The Great Officers of the Crown were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration
• Lieutenant-general of the Realm - Occasionally appointed and served as a pseudo-viceroy to oversee royal business in a region and served directly under the King. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the Monarch.

Constables of France

Note that there are gaps in the dates as the position was not always filled following the demise of its occupant.

Constables of the Kings of France, 1060–1626

• Alberic 1060–1065
• Balberic 1065–1069
• Gauthier 1069–1071
• Adelelme 1071–1075
• Adam 1075–1085
• Thibaut, Seigneur de Montmorency 1085–1107
• Gaston de Chanmont 1107–1108
• Hugues le Borgne de Chanmont 1108–1135
• Mathieu de Montmorency (d1160) 1138–?
• Simon de Neauphle-le-Chateau 1165–?
• Raoul de Clermont (died 1191) 1174–1194
• Dreux IV de Mello (1148–1218) 1194–1218
• Mathieu I LeGrand Baron de Montmorency (died 1231) 1218–1231
• Amaury VI de Montfort (died 1249) 1231–1240
• Humbert V de Beaujeu (died 1250) 1240–1248
• Gilles II de Trasignies (died 1275) 1248–1277
• Humbert VI de Beaujeu (died 1285) 1277
• Raoul II de Clermin (died 1302) 1277–1307
• Gaucher de Chatillon (1249–1329) 1307–1329
• Raoul I of Brienne, Count of Eu and Guînes (d. Montmorency, the name of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France, derived from the city of Montmorency, now in the Val-d'Oise Amaury VI de Montfort (1195 - 1241 was the son of the elder Simon de Montfort and Alice of Montmorency and the brother of the younger Simon de Montfort. Raoul I of Brienne (d 1344 Paris) was the son of John II of Brienne Count of Eu and Jeanne Countess of Guînes. 1344) 1329–1344
• Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Guînes (executed for treason 1350) 1344–1350, a POW in England after his capture in 1346, executed immediately on his return to Paris. Raoul II of Brienne (d November 19, 1350, Paris) was the son of Raoul I of Brienne Count of Eu and Guînes and Jeanne de Mello In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city
• Charles de la Cerda (died 1354) 1350–1354
• Jacques de Bourbon, Count of La Marche (1319–1362) 1354–1356
• Walter VI of Brienne (c. Charles de la Cerda (1327 &ndash January 8, 1354, L'Aigle) Franco-Castilian nobleman and soldier was the son of Alfonso de la Cerda (died 1327 and James of Bourbon-La Marche (1319 &ndash April 6, 1362) was the son of Louis I Duke of Bourbon and Mary of Avesnes Walter VI of Brienne (neè Gaulterio de Candia VI Comte de Brienne c 1304–1356, killed in the Battle of Poitiers) 1356
• Robert Morean de Fiennes (1308–1372) 1356–1370
• Bertrand du Guesclin (1320–1380) 1370–1380
• Olivier IV de Clisson (1336–1407) 1380–1392
• Philip of Artois, Count of Eu (1358–1397) 1392–1397
• Louis de Sancerre (1341–1402) 1397–1402
• Charles d'Albret, Comte de Dreux (died 1415, killed in the Battle of Agincourt) served twice: 1402–1411 and 1413–1415
• Waleran, Count of Saint Pol (died 1413) 1411–1413
• Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (died 1418) 1415–1418
• Charles II, Duke of Lorraine (1365–1431) 1418–1425
• John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan (b. This article covers the battle during the Hundred Years' War. Bertrand du Guesclin (c 1320 &ndash 13 July 1380) known as the Eagle of Brittany, was a Breton Knight and French military commander Olivier de Clisson (1326 &ndash April 23, 1407) nicknamed "The Butcher" was a French Soldier, the son of the Olivier de Clisson Philip of Artois (1358 &ndash June 16, 1397, Micalizo) son of John of Artois Count of Eu and Isabeau of Melun was Count of Eu Charles d'Albret (d October 25, 1415) was Constable of France two different times from 1402 until 1411 and again from 1413 until 1415 The Battle of Agincourt was an English victory against a larger French army in the Hundred Years' War. Waleran III of Luxembourg (1355 &ndash October 25, 1415, Agincourt) Count of Ligny and Saint Pol, was a French nobleman and Bernard VII Count of Armagnac (1360 &ndash 12 June 1418) was the Count of Charolais, Count of Armagnac, and Constable of France. Charles II (1364&ndash January 25 1431) called the Bold (le Hardi was the Duke of Lorraine from 1390 to his death and Constable of John Stewart, Earl of Buchan, (c 1381 &ndash 17 August, 1424) was the son of Robert Stewart 1st Duke of Albany and his second wife Muriella circa 1381– died at the Battle of Verneuil 1424) served 1424
• Arthur III, Duke of Brittany (Arthur de Richemont)(1393–1458) 1425–?
• Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol (1418–1475) 1465–?
• Jean II le Bon de Bourbon (1426–1488) 1483
• Charles III, 8th duc de Bourbon (1490–1527, killed during the Sack of Rome). The Battle of Verneuil (occasionally 'Vernuil' was a Battle of the Hundred Years' War, fought on 17 August 1424 near Verneuil Arthur III (in breton Arzhur III) ( August 24 1393 &ndash December 26 1458) known as the Justicier and as Arthur Louis de Luxembourg Count of Saint-Pol (1418 &ndash 12 December 1475) belonged to the Ligny branch of the House of Luxemburg and was Constable John II of Bourbon (1426 &ndash 1 April 1488, Château de Moulins) was Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1456 to his death Charles III of Bourbon-Montpensier Eighth Duke of Bourbon ( February 17 1490 &ndash May 6, 1527 in Rome) was Count of Montpensier The Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527, carried out by the mutinous troops of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, marked a crucial imperial victory in 1518–1523
• Anne de Montmorency, Grand Maitre de France (1492–1567, killed in the Battle of Saint-Denis) 1538–1567
• Henri I de Montmorency (1570–1621) 1593–1621
• François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières, Marechal de France (1543–1636) 1622–1626 The last constable. Anne de Montmorency duc de Montmorency, KG ( March 15, 1493 &ndash November 12, 1567) was a French soldier statesman The Battle of Saint-Denis was fought on November 10, 1567 between Catholics and Protestants during the French Wars of Religion in Henri I de Montmorency-Damville ( June 15 1534 - April 2 1614) Marshal of France, and Constable of France, seigneur of François de Bonne duc de Lesdiguières ( 1 April 1543 &ndash 21 September 1626) was soldier of the French Wars of Religion and

Henry VI of England, who claimed the throne of France, appointed John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury as Constable in 1445. Henry VI (6 December 1421 &ndash 21 May 1471 was King of England 1422–1461 (though with a Regent until 1437 and then 1470–1471 and a claimant to the kingdom John Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (1384/1390 &ndash 17 July 1453) was an important English military commander during the Hundred Years' War

First Empire

Allegedly, the Bourbon family, through the Comte d'Artois, offered Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul, the title of Constable of France if he would restore the Bourbons as kings of France. The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. The County of Artois (comté d'Artois graafschap Artesië was a Carolingian county (comitatus established in Western Francia. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. First Consul (Premier Consul was a title used by Napoleon Bonaparte following his seizure of power in France. List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below In 1808, Napoleon also appointed the Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire (Grands dignitaires de l'Empire Français). The Great Officers of the Crown were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration In doing this he appointed as Constable his younger brother Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, and as Vice-Constable, Marshal of the Empire Louis Alexandre Berthier, the French Army Chief of staff and Prince of Neuchatel. Early life Louis was born Luigi Buonaparte in Ajaccio, Corsica. Not to be confused with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom of Holland 1806 - 1810 (Koningrijk Holland Royaume The Marshal of France (Maréchal de France and pl Maréchaux de France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a Military rank. Louis Alexandre Berthier, 1st Duc de Wagram, 1st Duc de Valengin, 1st Sovereign Prince de Neuchâtel ( February The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre (Land Army is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces and its largest The chief of staff is the chief aide to the Commander of larger military Formations and Units It is sometimes the case that the chief of staff is more directly Neuchâtel ( literally: New Castle in Old French) is the Capital of the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel on Lake Both titles were strictly honorific.

Movies

If I Were King, 1938, with Francois Villon (played by Ronald Colman), who was appointed by Louis XI, King of France (played by Basil Rathbone) to be Constable of France for one week. If I Were King is a 1938 biographical Historical drama film starring Ronald Colman as medieval poet François Villon, and François Villon (in modern French fʀɑ̃swa viˈjɔ̃ in fifteenth-century French viˈlɔn (c Ronald Colman ( February 9 1891 &ndash May 19 1958) was an English Academy Award and Golden Globe -winning actor Louis XI ( July 3, 1423 – August 30, 1483) called the Prudent (le Prudent and the Universal Spider ( Middle List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below Basil Rathbone, MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967 was a South African-born English Actor most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock

Henry V, with Charles d'Albret, Comte de Dreux (played by Richard Easton, who was appointed by Charles VI of France, (played by Paul Scofield, killed in the Battle of Agincourt (1415) in one of the major scenes in the movie, depicted as falling from his horse into the mud (historical tradition holds he was drowned in the mud due to the weight of his armor, disabled by having his horse fall on him). Henry V is a 1989 film directed by Kenneth Branagh, and based upon the Shakespeare play about the famous English King Charles d'Albret (d October 25, 1415) was Constable of France two different times from 1402 until 1411 and again from 1413 until 1415 Richard Easton (born March 22, 1933) is a Canadian Actor. He is best known in for his portrayal of Brian Hammond in the 1970s BBC serial Charles VI (3 December 1368 &ndash 21 October 1422 called the Well-loved (le Bien-Aimé and the Mad (French le Fol or le Fou) was the David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE ( 21 January 1922 &ndash 19 March 2008) was an English award-winning actor of stage The Battle of Agincourt was an English victory against a larger French army in the Hundred Years' War.

See also

• Constable
• Lord High Constable
• Joan of Arc

References

External links

• Heraldica
• French Heraldry site